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Arthur Konyot
Arthur Konyot (1888-1966) was a renowned Hungarian-born horseman and trainer. Known as The White Rider, he began his career as a center-ring attraction in the Ringling Brothers, Ba...view moreArthur Konyot (1888-1966) was a renowned Hungarian-born horseman and trainer. Known as The White Rider, he began his career as a center-ring attraction in the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Born in December 1888, the fourth son of Hungarian circus owners Leopold Konyot and Henrietta Blumenfeld, Arthur and his 11 siblings grew up rooted in the tradition of equestrianism and acrobatics. The family moved to America in 1909, where they toured with Barnum & Bailey until 1912. On their return to Europe, they opened Konyot Bros. Great American Circus & Wild West Show.
Arthur married Russian ballerina Manya Guttenberg in 1914, and after WWI toured Italy, Germany, France, and North Africa, before spending five years performing in French circuses. The 1930s were spent working as high school trainers and riders in Spain and Portugal. Arthur’s training skills were sought after by many circus owners—besides horses, he trained camels, zebras, bears, dogs, chimps, and monkeys—and from 1940-1944 he and his family were contracted for the Ringling Show.
In the early 1950s, Arthur left the circus and moved to Chicago to open his own equestrian center, where he met his second wife, Elizabeth Ann Murphy. His daughter Dorita joined him at his Chicago Riding School, where both trained and showed Arabian horses to championship status.
He passed away in 1966 and lies buried at Manasota Memorial Park, Bradenton, Florida.
WILLIAM D. REICHMANN [?], whose father was a founder of the Barrington Hills Country Club and Barrington Hills Riding Club in Illinois, was the owner of the prize winning Arabian horse, Kamlah.view less
Books by Arthur Konyot
Arthur Konyot, The White Rider: My Sixty Years as a Circus Rider as told to William D. Reichmann